What:
Fortune and Fantasy: Canton in the Eyes of Providence in Early America research talk with Qiong Wu
Where:
Aldrich House (110 Benevolent St., Providence, RI, 02906)
When:
Thursday, August 15th, 12pm
Inaugural RIHS Hittner Fellow Qiong Wu to Present on Archival Research Qiong will discuss her current research and the information found in the RIHS archives
(PROVIDENCE, R.I.)—The Rhode Island Historical Society will host a talk on Thursday, August 15th, at 12 p.m. by inaugural Hittner Research Fellow with Qiong Wu on her research project Fortune and Fantasy: Canton in the Eyes of Providence in Early America.
Qiong will also discuss her recent research at the Robinson Research Center as she attempts to better understand how trade relations between Canton and Providence merchants shaped the course of Rhode Island’s socioeconomic and political development in the decades after the American Revolution.
Individuals can register for this talk by visiting rihs.simpletix.com. Guests are welcome to bring food to this lunchtime talk.
Qiong is a first-year graduate student in the Harrison Ruffin Tyler Department of History at The College of William and Mary. Qiong’s research project, Fortune and Fantasy: Canton in the Eyes of Providence in Early America, examines the transculturation of economic ideas, cultural and material artifacts, and social practices between China and the United States at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Qiong is currently a Digital Humanities Apprentice at the Omohundro Institute of Early American History & Culture. Prior to attending William and Mary, Qiong earned her MA in American Studies from Brown University in 2022 and an MA in American Studies from the Beijing Foreign Studies University in 2023.
Endowed by Mr. Barry and Dr. Kathleen Hittner in 2023, the Barry Hittner Research Fellowship in Rhode Island History is a short-term research fellowship which provides a stipend of $2,500 to support two to four weeks of in-person scholarly research in the Society’s extensive library and museum collections.
About the Rhode Island Historical Society
The Rhode Island Historical Society, the state’s oldest and only state-wide historical organization, welcomes everyone to engage with Rhode Island’s complex and significant past through its collections, museums, and educational initiatives.
Founded in 1822, the RIHS is an advocate for history as a means to develop empathy and 21st-century skills, using its historical materials and knowledge to explore topics of timeless relevance and public interest.
As a Smithsonian Affiliate, it is dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible public programming and educational opportunities for all Rhode Islanders through its four sites: the John Brown House Museum, the Museum of Work & Culture, the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center, and the Aldrich House.
The headquarters of the Rhode Island Historical Society are located at 110 Benevolent Street, Providence, RI 02906. Information: (401) 331-8575. Website: rihs.org. Follow the RIHS on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.